Improvement in car-couplings



R. HEMENWAY] I Car-Couplings.

No 147 838, 1 Patented Feb. 24.1874.

WITNESSES. mvsmon.

I BY UNITED STATES PA ENT OFFICE RANSOM HEMENWAY, OF NEW OASSEL, WISCONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part-of Letters Patent No. 147,838, dated February 24, 1874; application iiled January 5, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RANSOM HnMENwAY, of New Gassel, in the county of Fond du Lac and State of \Visconsin, have invented a new and Improved Oar-Coupling, of which the following is a specification:

1n the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a top view of my improved. car-coupling, showing the draw-heads of two cars interlocking. Figs. 2 and 3, respectively, are top 1 views of the draw-heads separated from each other, one being partly in horizontal sectionto show sliding spring-catch; and Fig. 4 is a side view of my coupling detached.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention relates to automatic doubleacting carcouplings, which may be easily un-- coupled from the top of boxcars, and used upon all kinds of cars having platforms of the same or different heights. My invention consists of a draw-bar at each end of the car, which is provided at one side with a strong outwardly curved part, having a laterally-slidin g springcatch, and at the other side with a broad vertical hook, which enters into the recess be tween the curved part and hook of the drawhead of the adjoining car by pressing the spring-catch sidewise. The springeatch looks over the hook after the entrance of the same into the recess. As both draw-heads interlock with each other, a double coupling is obtained.

In the drawing, A represents the draw-head, which is applied to both ends of the car. Each draw-head A is provided with a strong outwardly curved part, B, at one side, and a hook, 0, applied at the opposite side. Part B extends forward at greater length than hook G, and forms a recess with the same, so that the hook O of the draw-head of the car to be coupled can slide along the curved surface of part B, and pass thereby into the recess provided for it. Each part B is arranged with a cen tral lateral slot, a, in which the catch D slides, so as to project into the recess between part B and hook O. The inward-projecting end of catch D is curved at the outer side, so as to I allow the easier passage of the similarly-curved head of the connecting-hook. The outer end of catch D is connected, by a chain or rope, to a treadle-wheel or other device on the platform or top of the car, by which the catches are withdrawn for uncoupling the cars. A strong band-spring, E, is firmly bolted to the outer side of part B, and passes through a longitudinal recess of the same into a recess of catch D, pressing it thereby toward the inside of the draw-head. The opposite side of catch D is also recessed at b, defining, in connection with the stop-pin b of slot a, Fig. 2, the extent of sliding motion, and preventing also the detaching of catch D from part B during uncoupling.

When the cars are approaching each other for coupling, the hooks O are passing along the curved parts B, pressing the spring'catches -D back in the slotstill the hooks have entered far enough into the recesses of the drawheads for the catches D to spring forward and lock into hooks C, forming a double couplin of the Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination of the draw-heads A A, each provided with hook C and curved part B, having the vertically-sliding catch D and spring E, the parts O B of one draw-bar being turned reversely to those of the other, so that the two will form a double lock, as shown and described.

2. The draw-head provided with outwardlycurved part B at one side and broad hook C at opposite side, forming recesses between them, as described.

' BANSOM HEMENXVAY. Witnesses:

J. S. THOMPSON, A. D. THOMPSON. 

